<— SANTINO HASSELL’S UPCOMING LATEST ALERT!!!!!!! Illegal Contact (The Barons) is releasing ON. MY. BIRTHDAY! Perhaps that means that THIS is my birthday read. YAY ME!!!! So many of my book-buds absolutely LOVE this author. One of the best of the best M/M authors, and I need to jump in. I’m thinking this is a sign.

BUT!!! We’re starting the gifts early! And it’s not a gift to me… but to one of YOU! Plus a sneak peek at this next release:

Exclusive excerpt for Maryse’s Book Blog:

I looked at the cameras and found Gavin stretched out on a lawn chair by the pool. He’d already finished his workout and was wearing a very small and tight pair of swim shorts. His eyes were closed and his hand was cupping his bulge.

It could have been my hand cupping him last night. My hand drawing his towel away and figuring out just how big Gavin Brawley was and whether I could fit him all down my throat.

Holy shit, I needed to stop.

I clicked off the screen, put away the bills, and marched down to the pool.

He didn’t open his eyes before saying, “Hey.” He also didn’t move his hand.

Gavin moved his hand entirely and glared up at me. “If you’re gonna give me a rundown about why I’m not the type of guy you usually f**k with . . .”

“No,” I said dryly. “That is not what I intend to say. Stop assuming the worst about me. I’m not here to insult you or whatever you’re expecting. We need to clear the air and set up boundaries.”

“Uh-huh.”

I sat on the edge of the lounge chair and put a tentative hand on his knee. “Seriously. It has nothing to do with you. It’s me.”

“You’re a regular f**king cliché, aren’t you?”

“And you’re defensively defaulting into dick mode,” I shot back. “What it comes down to is that
you’re my boss. The boss I live with.”

“For four more months.”

“Yeah, but even so, I would think you’d understand why I don’t want to go through this again. I don’t want to be the guy who . . . fucks up every job because of an inability to draw boundaries at work.”

Gavin’s expression flickered and his jaw unclenched. “That was a different situation. This job is temporary.”

“I know it is, but it doesn’t change the messed-up power dynamics in this situation.”

“I don’t have power over—” he paused, frowning. “F**k, okay. I get it. But I’d be just as screwed if you abruptly bail on me. I don’t know what I’m doing when it comes to owning a house or organizing my life. I need you here.”

It was the first time he’d admitted to my value as his assistant, and I couldn’t stop myself from smugly grinning. “Yeah. You do. Case in point—your mortgage was two months overdue.”

Gavin grunted and crossed his arms over his chest. “Get back to rejecting me.”

“I’m not rejecting you. I just can’t f**k up this job because you’re a good kisser.”

“Okay, I get that, but be real and admit I’m a better kisser than that other guy.”

“Stop being a clown. I’m serious, Gavin. We need some boundaries.”

“So then have boundaries. I’m not stopping you.”

“We both need to stick with them. No flirting. No eyef**king—because in retrospect I now realize you’ve been doing it all along.” And boy, did it blow my mind to realize Gavin Brawley’s intense stare down had been him checking me out. Including the first time I’d stepped into Joe Carmichael’s office. “No more asking to kiss me.”

Gavin stared at me from beneath his eyelashes. “I won’t push up on you if you don’t want me to.”

Relief hit me. “Good. Things will be a lot easier if we both keep our hands and eyes to ourselves.”

“If you say so.”

He was sullen, but I could deal with that. I stood and began to turn away, but his voice rang out
clearly and loudly.

“But what if you ask to kiss me?”

I looked over my shoulder. “That’s not going to happen.”

Gavin had closed his eyes again. “We’ll see.”

Ooooooh YESSSSS!! WE WILL SEE!!!!

For the giveaway, Santino is offering:

A bound signed galley of Illegal Contact

an embroidered Barons Cap

How to enter for a chance to win it?Just leave a comment below (or better yet, tell me your favorite M/M book – or books!!) and by 10pm EST, Sunday July 30th 2017, I will randomly select one lucky commenter as the winner.

Also, while not necessary to enter, it would be awesome if you’d share this giveaway on Twitter or Instagram, or Facebook.

The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond with a mailing address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. This prize will be sent to the winner directly by author.

Giveaway open internationally!

About the author:

Author Santino Hassell

Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school cutting grunge kid, then a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into an unlikely romance author.

Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

Fave MM book? Too many to list! But some recent favorites are In the Middle of Somewhere by Roan Parrish, Leo Loves Aries by Anyta Sunday, Goodbye Paradise by Sarina Bowen, and Oversight by Santino Hassell.

I love the excerpt! Favorite M/M books are as follows:
Concourse by Santino Hassell – loved it so hard!
Outing the Quarterback by Tara Lain – Sexy quarterback!
Lover At Last by J.R. Ward – Love me some Qhuay!

I’m beyond excited for the release of Illegal Contact! As far as my favourite MM books go… well, anything written by Santino really? Aside from that Captive Prince trilogy, Heels Over Head by Elyse Springer, Abroad by Liz Jacobs, and Into the Blue by Pene Henson.

Thanks for the excerpt, so exciting!!! My fave M/M series is Upending Tad by Kora Knight and I also love Sloane Kennedy’s Barretti Security Group series, all super hot and were my introduction to M/M – I’ve never looked back! Good luck everyone x

AfterImage (In the Company of Shadows) – Sonny & Ais
This book, and the entire series, is f@%king life-changing. I was wrecked for weeks after finishing it, and it is the story to which I compare all others. I <3 Santino Hassel so much.

Oh would love to win a hat. I already pre ordered this book. Santino is one of my favorite newish authors. I’d probably have to go with the Cut and Run series as my favorite m/m books. That’s what started my love for these books by your recommendation. I’ve been hooked ever since

Santino Hassell is my absolute favorite writer of any genre. I can’t wait to read this one! My fav m/m book of all time is Amy Lane’s The Locker Room and my fav m/m couple are Ty And Zane from the Cut and Run series by Abigail Roux.

I am ridiculously excited for this! I think my favourite M/M books would either be the Community series by Santino or the Cyberlove series he does with Megan Erickson, they are suburb and I love their writing!

Thanks for the chance!! My fave m/m books, or that I’ve just read recently and fell in love with, are PERMANENT INK by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn, the PsyCop series by Jordan Castillo Price, WOLFSONG by TJ Klune, CLOSE QUARTER and the Takeover series you Anna Zabo, and HEELS OVER HEAD by Elyse Springer!!

Oooh, it’s hard to choose… I really like The Southern Scrimmage Series by Mercy Celeste, The Silver Tip Pack Series by Megan Erickson an of course Santino Hassell’s books. They’re fantastic! Thanks for the giveaway!

Apart from the Cut & Run series and the Captive Prince series, I loved Vespertine by Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn, I’m fairly addicted with the THIRDS series from Charlie Cochet, and Keira Andrews is almost always a hit for me (Beyond the Sea!).
Thanks for the chance at the giveaway.

I can’t even begin on the favorites list, but I’ll tell you my favorite Santino Hassell book, which is definitely on that list: Sutphin Boulevard, the book that started the whole big, beautiful Five Boroughs series ball rolling. Even though I ADORE all the books, this one has a special place in my heart. I can’t wait for Illegal Contact and the chance to fall in love with another of his series.

Well, my all time favorite MM romance is the Temptation series by Ella Frank. I still haven’t read all Santino Hassel’s books but I really really love the way he writes, it’s so different from the other authors I’m used to read ! Anyway, I can’t wait to read his next book !

My favorite M/M book is actually also by Santino: Insight, book one of his Community trilogy. I’m currently reading book 2, Oversight. I’ve never read any sports hero romance, but maybe if Santino is the author I will like it.

I’m just finishing Oversight by SH, so Illegal Contact may help ease the pain of awaiting the final book in The Community series by Santino Hassell. (Not due out ’til October) I read almost exclusively m/m at present–was seduced over from the BDB series when I developed unrequited Vutch Syndrome. Got a copy of the fanfic, True, read and loved it, and I’ve been reading m/m ever since. After True, my gateway-to-m/m-books were by SE Jakes. Dirty Deeds introduced me to Prophet Drews, and I immediately pursued the Hell or High Water series by SEJ. If I had to try to pick a favorite m/m book, at present it would be Zero at the Bone, and one written by Marion Zimmer Bradley (my all-time fav author) titled The Catch Trap. Of course that is subject to change depending on mood and mindset. Thank you for giving us an opportunity to win!

About Me

I am happily addicted to reading but I need to expend my book energy (especially when one puts me in an emotional frenzy - SO fun!). So, I release my feelings about the stories, by writing them down here. It's my book therapy. [ read more ]